Emotional Roller Coaster

     I would like to take a moment to express our gratitude for how many of you rejoiced with our family last week when we received the wonderful news that Our Little Hazelnut is currently cancer free.  It is a wondrous thing to behold when we see the army of supporters who are behind us; joining in our sorrows and in our triumphs.  And to have seen all of ours and your prayers being answered in such an incredible way was absolutely miraculous!  Since receiving the news, our family has of course been celebrating and treasuring each moment we have together.  However, it has been a bit of an emotional roller coaster for Aaron and myself.  Many people, myself included, have always seen a "Cancer Free" declaration as a final step into victory.  Although it is certainly a victory for Hazel and our family, it is just the first in what we hope will be a very long line of victories over the next few years.  The reality of childhood cancer does not just disappear with this news, and Hazel still faces two very grueling inpatient treatments and many years of hear-wrenching scans.  In addition, Hazel's particular type of cancer (High-Risk Neuroblastoma) has a relapse rate of anywhere between 35-60%, and currently, there is no known cure for relapsing/refractory Neuroblastoma.  There have been many improvements in treatment in recent years that look very promising, and many children beat this monster for second, third and even seventh times.  So Aaron and I have realized and grappled with these truths, and have only been able to take a shallow, not deep, sigh of relief.  The next five years for Hazel are absolutely critical because this is the window that Neuroblastoma likes to show its face again, which is why she continues on with scans and tests for so long.  But once past that five-year mark, chances of relapse almost diminish and scans discontinue.  Another thing that we may also have to face are late-effects from her treatment.  Common late effects include, but are not limited to, learning issues, vision problems, hearing loss, growth and developmental delays, developmental problems, seizures, headaches and loss of function in certain organs.  So clearly, our battle is not yet over, and we will continue to rely on God's plans and promises and your prayers and support to get us through.  We know, and have seen that our God is a God of Miracles; and I whole-heartedly believe that all of these statistics mean NOTHING to Him!  We need to cling to these truths:

• Deuteronomy 31:8  "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
• Romans 15:13  "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
• Isaiah 40:31  "but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

     As for now, Hazel and I just checked in at Children's Hospital Los Angeles for Cycle #4 of Immunotherapy.  This will be the same infusion as Cycle #2, where she will receive IL2 for four days, we return home for the weekend and come back Sunday evening to begin the infusion of IL2 & Chimeric combined for five additional days.  As many of you may remember, Hazel had a very difficult time with Cycle #2, so much so, that they even had to turn off the infusion of the IL2.  For this reason, her medical team has decided to run the IL2 at 50% it's normal amount/rate in the hopes that her kidneys do not take such an excruciating hit again.  So please pray that these next two weeks go much better than the last ones and that we may be reminded that He continues to have our little Hazelnut in His loving and healing hands!